Victims in the Criminal Justice System

Unit Outline (Higher Education)

   
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Effective Term: 2025/14
Institute / School :Institute of Education, Arts & Community
Unit Title: Victims in the Criminal Justice System
Unit ID: CRJUS3478
Credit Points: 15.00
Prerequisite(s): (ATSGC1283 and ATSGC1284) OR (CRJUS1283 and CRJUS1284) OR (CRJUS1285 and CRJUS1287) (At least 60 credit points from CRJUS subject-area at 2000-2999 level)
Co-requisite(s): Nil
Exclusion(s): (CRJUS2476)
ASCED: 099903
Other Change:  
Brief description of the Unit

In this unit, students will explore, through victimology theory, the impact of and type of victimisation perpetrated against victims and society; why some groups in society are more likely to be victims of crime and the differing societal response to victims of crime, based on gender, age or crime type. The unit examines contemporary state, national and international debates about the role of victims in the criminal justice system, including opportunities to compare the role of victims in the adversarial and inquisitorial justice systems. The unit will provide students with the opportunity to explore and critically review the criminal justice systems response to victims from the point of victimisation to finalisation at court. Students will also explore the legislative, policy, programmatic and service responses to victims in Victoria and other Australian jurisdictions including Human Rights frameworks, and the role of Victims Commissioners. Content will also include an historical and contemporary overview of the changing role of victims and the responses of the Criminal Justice System to adult and vulnerable victims, including children. Indigenous perspectives about current debates and issues will be embedded within the course.

Grade Scheme: Graded (HD, D, C, P, MF, F, XF)
Work Experience Indicator:
Placement Component: No
Supplementary Assessment:Yes
Where supplementary assessment is available a student must have failed overall in the Unit but gained a final mark of 45 per cent or above, has completed all major assessment tasks (including all sub-components where a task has multiple parts) as specified in the Unit Description and is not eligible for any other form of supplementary assessment
Course Level:
Level of Unit in CourseAQF Level(s) of Course
5678910
Introductory                                                
Intermediate                                                
Advanced                                        
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Unit Content:

Topics may include:
1. Introduction: Contemporary debates and victims in the media
2. Victimology theory and concepts - part 1
3. Victimology theory and concepts - part 2
4. Who are victims of crime? Legislative and human rights frameworks
5. Victims of family violence, intimate partner violence and sexual assault
6. Children and elderly victims of crime
7. Intersectionality
8. The ripple effect of crime: victims, families and society
9. Police response to victims
10. Victims in the court process
11. Restorative Justice
12. Services for victims
13. Victim/survivors raising their voices

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